In the policies of imperialism and oligarchy, there is no benefit for
the peoples of Cyprus

Press Agency Ozgurluk, 2 October 1997

The European Union took the decision to begin negotiations with six
countries in 1998, to accept them into full membership. Since Southern
Cyprus is one of these six countries and Turkey is not on the agenda,
this decision, it seems, disappointed the Turkish oligarchy and
government deeply.

On the 23rd anniversary of the occupation of Cyprus carried out by
former Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, he visited the island on July 20
and announced a declaration on partnership with the president of the
KKTC (Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus) and this is nothing but a
means of showing disappointment. By using the methods of "blackmail"
and "threats" on the subject of solving the Cyprus question, they have
supposedly showed that, they would not accept things quietly.
However, it was not so difficult to guess beforehand how the Cyprus
question would develop. Because in 1995 Turkey made a concession in
their claim that "The Republic of Cyprus cannot be a member of any
organisation, unless both Turkey and Greece are full members of it", a
claim which had been central to Turkish policy since 1960, in order to
be accepted into the Customs Union and to pass over the barrier put up
by the Greek veto. Turkey accepted the suggestions of the EU in order
to have access to the Customs Union. According to these suggestions,
the EU was declaring to Turkey that "Before a solution to the Cyprus
question, the acceptance of Cyprus into EU membership will be denied,
but the negotiations for full membership will be started before the
end of 1998."

This was actually accepting that Southern Cyprus represented the whole
island, because the European Parliament does not recognise the
administration of the KKTC and sees Southern Cyprus as the
representative of Cyprus. Consequently, the Ciller-Karayalcin
government of that time, which accepted the suggestion of "beginning
of membership negotiations with Cyprus", knew that negotiations would
be carried out with the administration of Southern Cyprus.
That is, when they accepted this, they could easily see the oncoming
situation and they were making concessions deliberately.
Because;

Firstly, it was inevitable to make concessions to imperialism to gain
access to the Customs Union. Also, then the oligarchy was hoping the
EU door would be left ajar, for the full membership of Turkey to be
accepted to the Customs Union would make things easier. There were
even great hopes for full membership in the very near future.
Secondly, in domestic politics, the government, especially Ciller,
needed to do "successful" work. It was a great opportunity for them to
be accepted to the Customs Union, to stop the government becoming
worn-out and to regain the support of people. That is why, the
"solution" of offers by imperialism was accepted.

But now, since they have realised that it is impossible to be
accepted into the EU in the near future, they are trying to use the
Cyprus question as blackmail to show popular opinion that they are
working on the matter and forcing the EU, once again to come to terms
with Turkey.

NEITHER THE ANNEXATION OF KKTC BY TURKEY, NOR THE ACCEPTANCE OF THE
GREEK PART OF CYPRUS INTO THE EU IS A SOLUTION FOR THE PEOPLES OF
CYPRUS

Neither Turkey nor Greece - both of whom see themselves in a position
of primacy as far as imperialism and the solution for the Cyprus
question is concerned - accept a solution which flouts their
interests. Neither of them supports an independent Cyprus where
Turkish and Greek people live in peace and brotherhood and find
solutions together to their own problems.

Imperialism wants to prevent the formula of an independent Cyprus
which could be established by the demands of the peoples of the
island, by joining the EU instead. The most important issue for
imperialism is to keep Cyprus dependent on imperialism.

Secondly, by accepting the Greek part of Cyprus into the EU and
avoiding the KKTC in the beginning, imperialism will be in a position
where it can be more effective and has more control on the solution of
the Cyprus question. The initiation of the negotiations with the Greek
part will affect the Turkish counterpart, and according to the
calculations of imperialism, the Turkish people having great economic
problems, will force a "solution" in order not to be excluded from the
unification of Europe. As a matter of fact, the declaration revealed
by Deputy Prime Minister and State Minister Bulent Ecevit, who went to
the island on July 20, and the president of the KKTC, Rauf Denktas,
did not create a positive impact on the Turkish people of Cyprus
either. The leader of the Republican Turkish Party, Mehmet Ali Talat
stated that, "an autonomy agreement between Turkey and KKTC will not
serve the interests of Turkish people in Cyprus." A similar statement
was made by the leader of the Socialist (Popular) Liberation Party,
Mustafa Akinci, saying; "political annexation is not suitable for the
interests of the Turkish people of Cyprus."

Thirdly, the solution to the Cyprus question and the EU membership
problem of Turkey became inseparable. By not including Turkey in the
list of candidate countries for EU membership and by making the
decision to initiate negotiations with the Greek part, imperialism,
specifically, imperialism in Europe, wants to force Turkey to make
concessions.

The landing of Ecevit to Cyprus on July 20 and his declaration are a
very suitable step towards the annexation of KKTC and also includes
the blackmail of "if you do not accept me into the EU, I will not make
concessions in my Cyprus policy." The PM, Mesut Yilmaz, by saying
"Without a solution for the Cyprus question and full membership of
Turkey in the EU, the EU membership of Cyprus is out of the question."
Stating their blackmail openly. Ecevit, in his speech given in Cyprus,
says that, "This sort of game and conspiracy increases the necessity
of unifying the KKTC with Turkey. I say unification, not
annexation. The KKTC, as an independent state, should live
forever. The steps towards unification are possible in the areas of
external security, foreign affairs, economic and financial."

A very good example of demagogy. What kind of independence for Cyprus
is mentioned here? Cyprus has been made dependent to Turkey for years
anyway. Which policy of Cyprus could be applied independently? There
is none. Turkey is there with its soldiers, tanks and guns. And now
unification in the areas of foreign affairs, defence, economy and
finance is on the agenda, what remains? The announced declaration has
only one meaning; annexation. Whether they will be successful or not,
it is the matter of another debate, but the only reality is that there
is nothing in it for the interests of the people of Cyprus and there
will not be any. As far as it is made real, the people of the island
will lose whatever they own so far. The oppression and terror of
fascism over the Turkish Cypriots, cruel exploitation, robbery and
plundering will be more intensified. The latest developments are the
proof of it. Income distribution, when the Greek part is compared with
the Turkish counterpart, is unbalanced approximately fourfold against
the Turkish people. That is, after the occupation, The Turkish Cypriot
people became four times poorer when they are compared with their
Greek counterparts. The economy of the KKTC is on the edge of
bankruptcy. It only survives with the help of Turkey, the wages of the
civil servants can be paid with the money borrowed from Turkey. The
intervening of contra-guerrilla mobs and mafia and carrying their
dirty businesses to the island is another major problem for Cypriots.
As a result, it can be said that, neither the acceptance of the Greek
part of Cyprus into EU, nor the "unification" of the KKTC with Turkey
is for the interests of the island's people.

All these policies are planned for the benefits of imperialism, and
the Greek and Turkish ruling classes. The interest of the island's
people is to oppose imperialist policies and stop the dirty deals over
them. Their interest is in bringing about the departure of
imperialism, the Turkish and Greek oligarchy, coming together to solve
their own problems, the sovereignty of people and the reconstruction
of an independent Cyprus. Any other way to solve the problems will
only lead the peoples of Cyprus to slavery.

THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY-KKTC COMMON DECLARATION

"The KKTC will continue to stand as independent. In foreign affairs,
to protect the interests of KKTC, a special relation will be
established in between two countries.

An attack on the KKTC will be counted as an attack on the Republic
of Turkey. A common defence doctrine will be formed in between two
countries.

A council of partnership will be established, consisting of
parliament and related ministries, between the two countries.

Economic and financial cooperation between two countries will be
formed. The KKTC will also have the advantages of the support and
encouragement which were originally provided by Turkey for the
development of primary provinces in Turkey.

The duty-free zones in both countries will be united.

The KKTC will also be able to use the TURKSAT satellite.

The transportation opportunities to KKTC via Turkey will be expanded.

Turkey will supply water for the KKTC.

The relations between Turkey and KKTC will be the same as the
relations between the Greek part of Cyprus and the EU.